Review AAMI Community Series: Collingwood v Richmond - Tuesday Feb 27 @ 6:40pm. Ikon Park.

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Reef v Johnson

While neither of the duo dominated, Johnson played more of the game and failed to have much of an impact. As for McInnes, he looked energetic after being injected into the game in the third term and quickly had three shots on goal.


Lyon thinks that Johnson needs to become more unpredictable in his patterns but he didn’t think McInnes definitely did enough to leapfrog his teammate.


“I don't know if he (Johnson) is lazy but … it's a game within a game as a key forward,” Lyon said.


“You've got to be able to be that target and present and do all the things that Mihocek was doing. But it's also you're playing against your opponent and you've got to make him think about stuff other than just focusing on what's happening up there.


“Josh Gibcus … he never really had to worry about what Ash Johnson was doing. Johnson went to every predictable spot, stood there sometimes … and then the contest would play out. That's when you run back to the goal, that's when you make Gibcus turn around (but he didn’t).


“He and McInnes were on display. That's why we focused on it a lot last night that … because McStay’s not there … it was a little bit of a rehearsal if you like.


“Johnson had first crack at it … I think Johnson's got great ability, but he didn't do much.


“McInnes came on just after half time and he had three shots at goal pretty early. It looked like he worked a bit harder, but I don't think either of them locked down their spot.”

I wouldnt be surprised if they go neither and just bring in an extra runner especially in a fast paced game
 

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The old ‘a player needs 50 games to really get going’ might be the issue with some of our ‘almost’ or ‘nearly there’ players like AJ, Reef, Fin and Dean.

For a whole range of reasons, including our success, these guys have had limited (or non-existent) game time in the last two years. I may be wrong - and I’m sure I’ll be corrected - but in the years when we struggled under Bucks (e.g. 2014-17) we seemed to have a lot of players in and out of the side. We also had that horror (nightmarish) run of injuries in Bucks’ era.

I reckon these guys would have had much more exposure at senior level in many other clubs. And we’d know a lot more about how good they can be. They are still miles off the magic 50 games.
 
One thing I noticed about Noble more than I had in the past is that he consistently ignores the shorter safer option and opts to just bomb long to a contest. Almost all the time.


At the time he was dropped I was genuinely shocked, but the more I've watched older games and seeing how he's played this pre-season, I'm starting to see why he lost his spot.
It's a tough one, as his decision making was dodgy as hell under Bucks and he's made himself a significantly better player by simply taking territory - running his full measure and kicking it long to a contest. He may not have the awareness to play a different way.
 
It's a tough one, as his decision making was dodgy as hell under Bucks and he's made himself a significantly better player by simply taking territory - running his full measure and kicking it long to a contest. He may not have the awareness to play a different way.

Maybe he'd be better suited on a wing?
 
How many teams play a third tall who is predominately mark and kick - unless they're number 2 ruck? My view is that he either makes it as one of our two KPP, or he stays on the fringe of the team.
Isn’t that the role Gunston played all his career?
 
Would you play him ahead of Sidey and Josh?

Not sure.

I'd need to see him in the role at least first.

I still think Sidey can extend his career as a crumbing small forward myself so I wouldn't be completely opposed to it.

Noble has the fitness and speed to play on a wing and we know he's a decent "territory" player.
 
Ash has all the ability and l'm a huge fan, but just doesn't have the work rate at the moment. He has all the athletic ability and he should be able to run his opponents around, but he just doesn't do that, and l want to see him be more active inside the F50....
AJ has loads of ability, but seems to lack footy IQ. We might just have to go with him though. He had plenty of work-rate over the summer, but just gets lost too often.
McInnes - he's a not KPP and doesn't get a game next week.
Charlie will be good back up, but I've got Frampton ahead of him. Frampton is more agile and versatile, especially when the ball hits the deck.
Best: Patty, WHE, Nick, Jordy, Oleg.

Fin's not playing ahead of WHE or Patty, but credit where it's due - he sure rocks a pair of shorts.
 

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He did for a couple of years whilst Buddy was still at Hawthorn - which is a decade ago.
Thats wrong. He has always played the 3rd tall who was a leading, marking type.
Look at post Buddy and you’ll see Hawthorn had players in the key forward role such as Patton, Lewis, O’Brien, Kosi etc

Same role last season at Brisbane alongside Daniher and Hipwood.

Many clubs have played a medium tall who just marks and kicks goals. Whichever way you want to look at it, Cox is the key forward who rucks.

Why else did we recruit Ollie Henry? Fyfe had been playing that role at Freo.
Membrey plays that role.

If I could be bothered going deeper into it I’m sure there’s a swag of reams with these type of forwards.
 
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And spoke about Wilba too, who really just does whatever is asked of him each week & never gets the recognition on the outside, but clearly he's appreciated within the club. I thought he played so well again last night.
Yeah, he has a good game off half back
 
Skipworth -

"Lippa has had an unbelievable pre-season, lots of people might forget he had a serious shoulder injury - Didnt get the pre-season and games the other guys did so he was playing catch up all year."

"We know what he is capable of and he is an exceptional player for us." "His running capability and ball use is at an all time high, and his contest stuff is the thing that dropped a way a bit through his shoulder last year, but thats come back and he is looking really strong around the ball"
 
The dude from Essendon goes alright as a third tall, kicked over 50 goals I think

We call a lot of blokes "3rd" talls because of their dimensions. I didn't watch much of Essendon last year. Were there two tall forwards playing in addition to him, or like Johnson last year did he play as one of two marking forwards?

Brisbane: two tall forwards, one who also chopped out in the ruck.

Carlton; got a lot better when injury shifted them away from playing 3 tall forwards - probably at their best with 2 - one of them chopping out in the ruck

Collingwood: Two tall forwards and a 2nd ruck.

etc..

Port were just about the only team I know of who often had a third tall forward in their line up - however one of the 3 also chopped out in the ruck. Footscray a disastrous attempt to go in packed with tall forwards.

A third tall marking specialist, who doesn't ruck? Probably only teams running with it if one of your two main forwards does the ruck chop out.

Cats are the best exemption with Ollie playing tall - but their ruck set up is a bit different due to Blicavs and Hawkins forwardline excellence in the ruck and Jezza is a bit different too.

The trend is towards an extra small rather than an extra tall, becuase most of the smalls are expected to be able to time a lead and take an uncontested mark.
 
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Patrick Lipinski best on ground. Remember in 2022 he was a top 6 B&F and was plagued by injuries in our flag year
 

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